Introducing your Great Ocean Road Tour experience

The Great Ocean Road tour is a journey along one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives! Twist and the wind along the spectacular Great Ocean Road enjoying awesome coastal photo opportunities. Along the way stop to see cuddly koalas in the wild and an abundance of other Australian wildlife. Witness the magnificent surf beaches. Enjoy a guided walk amongst the ancient rainforest. Then arrive at the 12 Apostles to witness the marvel of these gigantic limestone stacks located in Port Campbell National Park.

Great Ocean Road Trip – Loyd, 2019“Would like to compliment on the great service received on my GreatOcean Rd day trip“read more

“From the moment of pick up till drop off. Craig was an excellent host and guide. Very informative and entertaining. Wouldn’t hesitate to do another trip on any future trips to Melbourne.”

Full Itinerary

Travel with us along the Great Ocean Road spanning 192 kilometres from Torquay to Port Campbell along Victoria’s southern coastline. From Melbourne, we travel towards Torquay where the famous surf brand Rip Curl was founded before passing through the world famous Bells Beach. We stop for a morning tea break at a picturesqueread more

location before making our way to our first highlight, the Memorial Arch. Listed as a National Heritage, the war memorial archway is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Stop for a photo in front of the Great Ocean Road sign before we begin winding our way along one of the greatest coastal roads in the world.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Koalas

Be guided through a Koala habitat and be awed at the wonders of nature. Spot and count the wild koalas amongst eucalyptus trees. And if you’re lucky enough, you may even see some Kangaroos. Listen to the songs of lovely birds native to Australia such as Kookaburras, King Parrots, Yellow Robins, Fairy-Wrens, and much more.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Coastal Villages

We will visit the quaint coastal town of Apollo Bay in southwestern Victoria. Located on the east side of Cape Otway, Apollo Bay is a natural resort town where you can explore its rich rainforests filled with waterfalls, streams, lush vegetation, and exotic wildlife. We will stop here for lunch at your own expense. Enjoy a cafe dining experience or a picnic down the beach the choice is yours.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Cape Otway National Park

Explore the Great Otway National Park with your tour guide and learn about this incredible ancient rainforest. Witness with towering centuries-old eucalyptus trees, thousand year old lush ferns, magnificent wetlands, a variety of native birds, and many different species of wild animals.

Great Ocean Road Tour | The 12 Apostles

Be mesmerized by the famous 12 Apostles and soak in the splendour of the rock formations’ allure and magnificence. Let the towering cliffs dwarf you as the raging waters of the surf pound on the rocks below. Witness the changing colours of the sky and sea as the sun slowly sinks behind the giant limestones. You can also walk down the Gibson Steps and snap some photos of marvellous ocean vistas — lush beaches and riotous surf. The steps are a few minutes away from the 12 Apostles. You can see the Gog and Magog from the viewing platform of Gibson Steps An incredible highlight of your Great Ocean Road Tour.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Loch Ard Gorge

Get lost in the natural beauty of Loch Ard Gorge while learning from our tour guide some history of the area’s famous shipwrecks. There had been over 200 shipwrecks between Port Fairy and Cape Otway. Hear the harrowing story of two young survivors of the Loch Ard Ship Wreck in 1878. Marvel at the formations of Island Archway, Razorback and the Saly and Pepper Shakers.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Gibsons Beach

Walk along the beach beside these awe-inspiring limestone formations and be dwarfed by 80m high cliffs. The southern ocean swell can be quite rough so conditions permitting this beach will be accessible.

Great Ocean Road Tour | Return to Melbourne

As we head back to Melbourne, we will have a stop in the town of Colac for dinner at your own expense.

In this Great Ocean Road Tour included are all entry fees. Our friendly, hospitable, and informative tour guide will point you some interesting sites and facts and will entertain you with stories and tales. We have a modern air-conditioned bus with experienced driver to pick you up and drop you off at your inner city hotel.

Bring a sense of adventure together with your warm clothes, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses, and a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Bring your camera so you can record your adventure and experience with us in this Great Ocean Road tour.

** Please arrive 5-10 mins prior to you nominated pickup time so as not to delay or miss your tour.

Cancellations

This tour qualifies for FREE Cancellations if you book via our website. Change your travel date or cancel your tour any time up until 24hrs prior to departure and receive a full refund. Failure to board tour will result in 100% loss of ticketread more

If you book via our call centre, a 3rd party website or a travel agent your booking is subject to the following conditions:

Cancellations within 48 hours or failure to board on the day of tour, will result in 100% full fare forfeiture. Cancellation within 2 to 7 days prior to departure will result in a 50% loss of the ticket price. Date change fees apply outside of 7 days $25 per person. Read Full Terms and Conditions here

Our commitment to sustainability

At Autopia Tours, we actively promote the protection of flora and fauna on our Great Ocean Road Tour. It is our duty to ensure there is minimal disturbance to this National Heritage Listed region and the species that call it home. Cultural sensitivity and respect for the traditional owners should also be shown at all times.read more

Part of our responsibility is educating guests on minimal impact practices and the importance of ensuring the safety of wildlife and the environmental sustainability of the destinations we visit.

Learn more about EcoTourism: https://www.ecotourism.org.au/

Traditional Owners

Autopia Tours would like to begin by paying our respects to the traditional owners of this country, with specific acknowledgement to the Wurundjeri people. Please be conscious and respectful of the sensitivities of indigenous culture and the spiritual connection they have with the land at all times.

Wildlife Encounters

The natural behaviours of wildlife are to be respected and not interfered with. When viewing wildlife, people should take care to avoid rapid or sudden movements, which could frighten the animal, and should keep noise to a minimum and refrain from touching, petting or feeding all wildlife including birds. Contact with people can introduce diseases to wildlife and can cause them to become aggressive.

Wildlife should not be handled or fed, unless by certified wildlife handlers. Feeding wildlife can alter their natural foraging behaviour and can lead to disease or illness through contact with people and the introduction of foods that are harmful to their digestive system. Feeding wildlife can also cause them to become aggressive toward people.

Wildlife that appears to be in distress, injured or in danger should be reported immediately to the appropriate authority, such as your Guide/Tour Leader, a National Park Ranger or Visitor Centre Staff.

Protecting our National Parks

People should remain on designated walking tracks, behind safety barriers/fences and follow all directions given by the guide/tour leader. Venturing off these can alter fragile ecosystems and can harm wildlife shelters and native vegetation. There are other dangers to be aware of too, such as cliff edges, unstable rock formations, overhanging tree branches and slippery ground cover. Remaining on tracks ensures safe visitation for guests and the environment.

No flora or fauna should be removed from their natural setting. This includes dead wood, fallen leaves, flowers and so forth, as they form part of the ecosystem of the region and their removal could cause a disturbance.

Waste Management

All buses are fitted with waste bins. No organic waste should be disposed of onto the ground. Although organic, items such as banana peels, apple cores, bread and other food scraps, are not natural/native to the region and can introduce pest species, diseases or harm to wildlife if found and eaten. We recommend all passengers bring a water bottle with you on our Great Ocean Road Tour. Purchasing bottled water contributes large amounts of plastic into the landfill. Therefore, we ask guests to bring their own bottle, as there is access to water refill stations available on our vehicles. Please ensure you stay hydrated throughout the tour to reduce the risk of sun exposure and dehydration.

First Aid

All our guides carry a current Level 2 First Aid certificate. Please report any accident or illness to your tour guide. We recommend anyone with an existing medical condition to carry their medication with them on tour and to notify their tour guide at the beginning of the tour.

If you are a smoker! We ask you to refrain from smoking whilst in the company of other passengers and limit it to designated smoking areas. Smoking is not permitted on any of our vehicles, or in any type of accommodation including permanent campsites. We make frequent ‘comfort stops’ to allow free time for guests but cannot guaranteed smoke breaks. Please ensure you dispose of your cigarette butt responsibly and appropriately.

I booked a day trip to the great ocean road. I initially wanted to do this trip with friends over a couple of days but they couldn't make it. Im really glad I booked a tour because there is no way i would of learned so many interesting things about this region had i driven on my own. My tour guide Simon was exceptional. I look forward to coming back and booking a longer tour with Autopia Tours. Amazing!!

Mar 25, 2019

by George W on Boutique by Autopia

Brilliant Great Ocean Road Tour

No words describe the views, they were unbelievable. The guide is amazing. His knowledge of the history of the area was amazing. He pointed out all sorts of information including the flora and fauna. On the way back we stopped for a break at a rest area and spotted Koala and Kangaroo in the wild as well as some beautiful birds.

Jul 31, 2017

by Eric, UK on Boutique by Autopia

Great Ocean Road Tour

The 1 day Great Ocean road tour was fantastic! The tour guide Kurt was really great and very friendly.